Today is officially the opening day of the first-ever High Times Cannabis Cup on Canadian soil.
While it’s certainly seen it’s share of lineup changes and adjustments, we can get down with the latest one: This weekend’s festival (August 24 to 27) will bring hip hop royalty Lil’ Kim to the Cowichan Valley.
Lil’ Kim was added yesterday afternoon as Saturday’s headlining act, following the addition of Grammy-winner Wyclef Jean as Sunday’s headliner last week.
Until two weeks ago, the event, which is being held at Laketown Ranch Music and Recreation Park, was known as the Legends Valley Music Festival, but was rebranded when it was purchased by the U.S.-based media company.
Two bands, Body Count, a metal band fronted by rapper Ice-T, and Forgotten Rebels, a Canadian punk band out of Hamilton, Ontario, were booked by Legends Valley organizers but have since been removed from the original bill.
While Body Count’s bassist suffered a hand injury that caused multiple show cancellations, fans of the Forgotten Rebels have suggested on social media that the punk band was removed because of promotional imagery of the band that included Confederate flags. Some of the band’s songs also allude to Nazism.
Despite the conjecture, no doubt spurred by recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia, Victoria’s Times Colonist reported this morning that media relations representative Jon Cappetta says the band was removed due to an incomplete contract.
He also added that another ‘household name’ will be added to the bill, though he’s not sure when the announcement will be made. He told the Colonist it might be a ‘surprise’ for festival goers.
High Times’ purchase of the Vancouver Island festival follows the recent acquisition of a $70-million stake in the magazine by a group of investors that includes Damian Marley.
The High Times Cannabis Cup Canada will take place at Laketown Ranch in Cowichan Valley from Thursday, August 24 to Sunday, August 27. Find tickets here.
